There always seems to be accusations that (mostly) master's riders are doping, but without any real evidence. As TMS recently pointed out with a number of riders, they have shown consistency throughout their career and not a sudden zero-to-hero improvement that would indicate drug use. But you have to ask, if someone did dope, what would it actually give them. Let's break it down:

 Testosterone:
AKA: steroids
 Form: gels, pills, injectables

Why is it used: Despite what many people think, using testosterone by itself isn't going to turn you into a hulking beast that can ride 400w for an hour. From an physiological standpoint, it allows the user to RECOVER from one workout so he/she can ride the next day with less fatigue. The biggest benefit therefore, comes with consecutive training days. When we think about master's riders though, how many can actually put in 15+ hour weeks, back to back, month after month that would make using the T worthwhile. Very few can because of the wife, job, kids, etc. So are some of the guys on the scene claiming low T to their doc and getting a little something-something? Sure, but is that actually enough to move them from 20th to top 5, no.

 Oxygen vector doping 
AKA: Blood doping
Forms: EPO, blood bags, xenon gas

Why used: We all know that the higher your hematocrit, the more sustainable power you can produce. Most of the master's guys in the scene probably have a natural hematocrit between 40-45. Now the UCI sets the legal limit at 50, but we all know that WADA/USADA isn't going to show up at our doorstep week after week trying to develop a biological profile to track our hematocrit, reticulocyte and OFF score. Even when USADA showed up in Lansing in 2014, they were asking for urine, so what's stopping anyone from using? Practicality mostly. First, EPO must be refrigerated, so I'm not sure what master's rider is going to store it next to the Oberon without the family taking note. Even if you store it in the kegerator in the garage, how many people know they need iron an supplement and have the skill set to keep their 'crit under 52 so they don't have heart attack while they are getting their ZZZ's. Second, blood bags are even more complicated with extraction, spinning down, storage and re-infusing. Xenon gas would be easy to hide, but who could find or will spend $25k or more on a xenon machine, just so they can win the local master's race and make $100?

 Growth Hormone 
AKA: HGH
Forms: injectable

Why used: The common misconception about growth hormone is that it will make you stronger, but the science doesn't support that. What it does however, is reduce inflammation, increase tendon strength, and reduce body fat. So, if you are training 15+ hours a week time and again, steroids will help the muscle recover and HGH will help the tendons recover (ie reduce overuse injuries like tendinitis). The added benefit is reduced body fat, but let's be honest, there isn't a climb in MI (or OH for that matter) that is over 2min long, so going from 10% to 8% body fat isn't going to help that much and there is no one in the Scene that has legs that look like a road map. So like steroids, someone may be using it, but it won't be enough to move them from 20th to top 5.

 As far as doping goes, these are the big three that everyone seems to focus on, but there are certainly other things out there: insulin, AICAR, SARMS, and other peptides like Delta 2. But let's be honest, I don't know who would have access to the drug or the knowledge on how to use them appropriately. Bottom line though, is there is no one in the Scene that has gone from pack-fodder to top podium step over night that would suggest use of anything. Do some guys pull out big rides? Sure, but we all know luck is part of this game and some times you are in the right place at the right time.